Bernice Donaldson (93) of Effingham

Published on April 8 2013 10:25 am

Bernice P. Donaldson, 93, of Effingham, passed from this life into eternity on Sunday, April 7, 2013, exactly four years after the death of her husband, at Effingham Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Effingham.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at Cornerstone Christian Church in Effingham with Pastor Kevin Colclasure officiating. Visitation is from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday evening at Hall Funeral Chapel in Effingham and from 9:30 a.m. until service time Saturday morning at the church. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Effingham. Memorials may be made to Cornerstone Christian Church in Effingham. Condolences may be left online at www.hallfuneralchapel.com.

Bernice was born September 30, 1919 in Cumberland County, Illinois, the daughter of Granville and Iva (Grissom) Kingery, the third of nine children. Her life became focused on two elements, which characterized her until her passing: family and faith. Bernice married Frank Donaldson on February 9, 1943 in St. Louis, MO, while he was a member of the U.S. Army. When World War II was over, the couple established their home in Effingham. To their union were born four children, Delaine, Gloria, Dale and Darren. She was a charter member of the former Willow Street Church of Christ (now Cornerstone Christian Church) of Effingham, where she was a longtime Sunday School teacher and an active part of the musical program of the congregation.

Bernice is survived by her children and their spouses, Delaine and Sandi Donaldson of Effingham, Gloria and Dennis Stuckey of Rochester, Dale and Dianne Donaldson of Effingham and Darren and Amy Donaldson of rural Effingham, 11 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 1 step-great-grandchild, 2 sisters; Beulah Petty and Virginia Fulk, 2 brothers; Forrest Kingery and Dallas Kingery and his wife Hazel, sisters-in-law and brother-in-law Paul and Shirley Goldstein and Loretta “Babe” Funneman and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, 2 brothers and 2 sisters.